Hand-grenade for fire-extinguishers



(No Model.)

J. J. HARDEN. HAND GRENADE FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHERS,

No.'282,981. Patented Aug. 14, 1883.

n wring,- mmuim m. Washinflm a c "UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JOHN J', HARDEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HAN Dr-GRENADE FOR FIRE-EXTINGUISHERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No; 282,981, dated August 14, 1883. Application filed March 23, 1882. No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, J OHN J. HAJRDEN, of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in Hand -Grenades for Fire-Ex tinguishers, of which the following is a description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, in which+ t Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improvement, with a portion broken away to show the interior thereof; and Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view of a modification of the mouth or opening, showing the manner of l placing the cork therein and sealing the same.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts iii the different figures. l The object of my invention is to provide a simple, cheap, and effective means for the sudden extinguishment of fires accidentally or otherwise breaking out in cars, buildings, and other places; and it consists in a receptacle made of glass or otherfrangible material, having an orifice with astopple fitted therein, said stopple beingprovided with an interior recess communicating with the interior of saidreceptacle, into which recess I place a quantity of alkali or other material, which, entering into chemical combination with sulphuric acid, or other acid capable of producing when C0111- bined therewith carbonic-acid or other fireextinguishing gas, and thus charging said re ceptacle, after the same is closed, with said gas. To prevent said stopple from being forced out by the pressure within, as well to prevent the leaking of gas through the pores of said cork,

. I preferably provide said orifice with an enlargement above said stopple ending with an inwardly'inclined fiange, in which enlargement I place suitable cement, wax, or metal for holding said stopple in place and preserv ing the contents of saidreceptacle intact.

In the drawings,A represents a hollow globe or bottle, preferably made of glass or other I frangible material, and provided with an mi fice, B, into which a stopper, 0, may be inserted, and through which orifice the liquid contents may be poured. I fill the globe A nearly full'of diluted acid, as shown at D in the drawings, diluted to such an extent as to produce the most ready r'eactionwhen brought in contact with such reagent as may be adopted. I prefer to dilute the acidin. the proportion of 6o It is therefore essential that the globe closed before the chemical substances which it contains are brought in contact.

As a reagent, I prefer carbonate of soda,

preferably used in the solid form, and for the quantity of liquid mentioned about one-half of a drachm will be sufficient, as more than that would producetoo great a pressure and burst the globe. These proportions of course may be varied, due regardbeing had to the strength of the. globe. In order toaccomplish this result, acavity may be formed in the cork C, as

shown at e, and the charge of soda inserted therein and preferably covered by a gummed label or wafer to hold it in place. The cork may then be inserted and sealed, and the globe inverted, when the acid will bebrought in 'contact with thesoda after destroying or loosen- .ing the label, and the carbonic acid thereby ,evolved will remain under pressure. 7

Under ordinary circumstances, if soft and pliable corks are used and inserted well within the mouth of the globe, the expansion at the base will usually be sufficient to retain the same securely in place, notwithstanding the internal pressure may be nearly sufficient to burst the globe. To prevent the escape of gas through the pores of the cork, andto more effectually hold the samein place, I cover the latter with a coating, (1, of ordinarylsealingwax, cement, lead, or other 30113111613311; To accomplish the sealing more effectually,- the mouth of the receptacle may be enlarged near the top, and a flange molded or formed thereon, and inclined inward, as shown atf, Fig. 2. The cork ,C may then be inserted until its top is below the enlargement, and the wax, cement, or other covering (I pressed in above and allowed to solidify, when it will hold the cork firmly in place. If preferred, ametal cap may be secured over'the mouth of the globe, either by being screwed upon threads, molded in the glass, or inany other suitable manner; or the opening may be hermetically sealed by fusing the glass thereover, or it may be closed in any other convenient manner.

It is obvious that the greater thepressure of 5 gas obtained within the globe the more efficient it will prove in extinguishing fires, as.

the volume of gas evolved will be in proportion to such pressure.

Any number of grenades of sizes to suit va- IO rying purposes maybe charged at a time, when they are ready for immediate use, it being only necessary to throw them into the fire with sufficient force to break them, when the gas escapes and prevents further combustion.

My grenades may be kept in convenient places in houses or other buildings, or carried in conspicuous places in passenger-cars, steamboats, and other conveyances when needed. By their use it is obvious that many fires might 20 be extinguished in their incipiency, which might get beyond control if allowed the time necessary to adjust and bring into use the more complicated and cumbrous appliances heretofore adopted.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, a 1S interior recess opening into the interior of said grenade, containing the requisite acid and alkali, forming a charge of carbonic-acid gas or other fire-extinguishing gas, said orifice being also provided with an enlargementabove said stopple, and ending with an inwardly-inclined flange, in the manner and for the uses and purposes set forth. 1

JOHN J. HARDEN. Vitnesses:

E. E. HOLLAND, D. H. FLETCHER. 

